The trend toward private MI is likely to continue in anticipation of the FHA Solvency Act of 2013, which is awaiting action on the Senate floor.

A housing lobbyist added that, “Right now it’s a matter of timing. Will in come in October or a little later than that?”

The FDIC will raise the question of a 30 percent downpayment but don't expect to see it in the final QRM rule.

It appears that mortgage bankers are beginning to liberalize, somewhat, the credit scores they're willing to accept on FHA loans.

Today, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac g-fees average 50 to 55 basis points compared to 24 bp back in 2009.

FHA lenders have gradually stretched to originate loans for borrowers with more modest credit scores in recent quarters, although these borrowers typically are better positioned to keep up with their payments, according to an Inside FHA Lending analysis of data released by the agency. The average credit score for single-family loans endorsed in the second quarter of 2013 was 693 – the lowest such average in nearly four years. This is partly the result of a shift toward more purchase-money mortgages, which generally have ... [1 chart]

Parties to trustee lawsuits challenging a city’s use of eminent domain to deal with foreclosures are gearing up for a face-off at an injunction hearing Sept. 13 in federal district court in San Francisco. The city of Richmond, CA, the defendant in the lawsuit, has suffered setbacks in the last few days and has yet to make good on its threat to initiate eminent domain proceedings after investor trustees rejected its offer to purchase distressed mortgages for restructuring. Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank, acting as trustees for a group of ...

Just how brutal will this mortgage correction be? One thing's for certain: loan officers with close ties to Realtors and builders will be golden.

It was the biggest volume of new lending above the conforming loan limit since the second quarter of 2007 – before “emergency” conforming loan limits were authorized by Congress.

Sales-to-list price ratios on non-distressed properties increased for the seventh consecutive month in July to 98 percent, according to new research from the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey.